Fishing lure producing electromagnetic fields

ABSTRACT

Fishing lures are disclosed herein. One fishing lure, includes a body having a front portion and a back portion wherein the front and back portion are constructed and arranged such that at least one of the portions can move with respect to the other portion and an electromagnetic field generation system having a magnet and a coil of conductive wire wherein the wire has a contact at each end of the coil and wherein the magnet and the coil are separated from each other such that the magnet is located in either the front portion or back portion and the coil is located in the portion not containing the magnet.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to fishing lures.

BACKGROUND

Electromagnetic fields are present in many objects found in nature. Forexample, aquatic animals exhibit a type of electromagnetic field thatprovides DC field potentials. In fish, the strongest part of this fieldis commonly produced in the head and gill region. Ranges of these fieldscan be extremely low, for example in the microvolt (pV) potential. Wheninjured, the electromagnetic field strength in the fish increases makingthe fish easier to distinguish from other natural elements emittingelectromagnetic fields.

Some predators have physiological features to detect suchelectromagnetic fields and can use them to detect, track, and target itsprey. For example, in order to detect low frequency electromagneticfields, some fish have specialized receptors to detect and interpret theincoming electromagnetic information. One such system is the ampullaryelectrosensory system of fish. The systems in such animals are similarto modified hair cell sensors. The ampullary receptor system on suchfish includes a number of pores on the skin of the animal and having anelectromagnetic field sensing structure therein.

An example of such a system is known in the distribution of Ampullae ofLorenzini along the nose of sharks and other animals for prey detection,among other functions. In sharks, the Ampullae of Lorenzini is theampullary organ used to detect electrical stimuli. These receptors aredistributed along the dorsal and ventral head region of the sharks.Similar physiological receptors have also been found to be present onfreshwater fish, such as bass, northern pike, and muskies, among others.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a cut away side view of a lure according to theembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A illustrates a side view of another lure according to theembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B illustrates a bottom view of the lure of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C illustrates an enlarged bottom view of the front portion of thelure of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a different style of lure illustratingother embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of three different styles of luresillustrating other embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure includes a number of fishing lure embodimentseach having electromagnetic field generation mechanisms. For example, inone embodiment, a fishing lure can include a body having a front portionand a back portion wherein the front and back portions are constructedand arranged such that at least one of the portions can move withrespect to the other portion.

The example embodiment further including an electromagnetic fieldgeneration system having a magnet and a coil of conductive wire whereinthe wire has a contact at each end of the coil and wherein the magnetand the coil are separated from each other such that the magnet islocated in either the front portion or back portion and the coil islocated in the portion not containing the magnet. Several different lureconcepts are shown in the accompanying drawings and described herein.

In the following portion of the detailed description, reference is madeto the accompanying figures that form a part hereof. The figures show byway of illustration how one or more embodiments of the disclosure may bepracticed.

Further, the figures herein follow a numbering convention in which thefirst digit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and theremaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing.Similar elements or components between different figures may beidentified by the use of similar digits. For example, 102 may referenceelement “02” in FIG. 1, and a similar element may be referenced as 202in FIG. 2A.

Also, as used herein, “a”, “at least one”, or “a number of” somethingcan refer to one or more such things. For example, “a number ofelements” can refer to one or more elements.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same techniques can be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments of thedisclosure.

As will be appreciated, elements shown in the various embodiments hereincan be added, exchanged, combined, and/or eliminated so as to provide anumber of additional embodiments of the present disclosure. Theproportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in thefigures are intended to illustrate the embodiments of the presentdisclosure and should not be taken in a limiting sense.

Further, it is to be understood that the above description has been madein an illustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one. Combination ofthe above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically describedherein will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing theabove description.

The scope of the various embodiments of the disclosure includes anyother applications in which the above structures and methods are used.Therefore, the scope of various embodiments of the disclosure should bedetermined with reference to the appended claims, along with the fullrange of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cut away side view of a lure according to theembodiments of the present disclosure. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, thelure 100 includes a body having a front portion 102 and a back portion104.

The front and back portion are constructed and arranged to utilize amovement mechanism 112 such that at least one of the portions can movewith respect to the other portion. In this embodiment, the mechanism 112used to provide such movement is a pair of eyes (103 and 105), with oneeye 105 fixed to an end surface of the front portion 102 and the secondeye 103 fixed to an end of the back portion 104.

The eyes (103 and 105) are formed to create a loop (out of metal, in theprovided example, although other materials may be used) with an apertureformed by the curvature of the loop. In order to connect the eyes, theloop of one eye is placed through the aperture of the other eye. Thisarrangement allows one portion of the body (e.g., back portion 104) tomove with respect to the other portion of the body (e.g., front portion102).

This arrangement also creates a space between the front and backportions of the lure. This allows the back portion to have some space tomove with respect to the front portion.

The movement can be accomplished, for example, by manipulation of thelure through the water by an angler that has the lure attached to afishing rod via fishing line or via a mechanism (e.g., spinner, fin,shape of body portions), such as those described herein. Althoughseveral mechanisms are discussed herein, other suitable mechanisms maybe utilized in embodiments as claimed herein to move a magnet on oneportion of the lure's body near a coil on another portion of the lure'sbody.

As discussed above, the embodiment of FIG. 1 also includes anelectromagnetic field generation system having one or more magnets (inthis example, one magnet 106 is used) and a coil of conductive wire 108having a contact 110 at each end of the coil. Although the coil in FIG.1 has two contacts, only one contact is visible in this figure, as aportion of the lure has been cut away to show the interior elements ofthe lure. An example showing both contacts is provided in FIG. 2B.

The magnet and the coil are separated from each other such that themagnet is located in either the front portion or back portion (in FIG.1, the magnet 106 is in the back portion 104) and the coil is located inthe portion not containing the magnet (accordingly, in FIG. 1, the coil108 is in front portion 102). With this arrangement, the magnetgenerates an electromagnetic field which interacts with the coil togenerate a current in the coil.

This current fluctuates as the one or more magnets move with respect tothe coil. The contacts are exposed to the water and when the lure is inuse, the water completes a circuit with the contacts and the coil and,thereby, a variable electromagnetic field is created that isidentifiable to predators having electroreceptors. Further, the variableelectromagnetic field may be more lifelike than a static electromagneticfield and, therefore, may attract more or more desirable fish. Severalother embodiments of lure types according to the present disclosure arediscussed in detail below.

FIG. 2A illustrates a side view of another lure according to theembodiments of the present disclosure. As in the example of FIG. 1, theembodiment of FIG. 2A provides a lure 200 that includes a body having afront portion 202 and a back portion 204. The front portion 202 includesa coil within the body of the lure.

As shown in FIG. 2A, as used herein, the term coil means a length ofwire that has been bent to form one or more loops. The coil has a pairof contacts (only one shown in this view at 210), one on each end of thelength of wire used to form the coil. The coil interacts with a magnet206 provided on the back portion 204 of the lure.

In this embodiment, the lure has a different mechanism to provide themovement between the coil and the magnet. In this embodiment, the frontand back portions 202 and 204 are connected together by a shaft 214 withthe connection between the two being in a manner such that the backportion 204 can rotate with respect to the front portion 202 around theelongate axis of the shaft 214. In such an embodiment, and as shown inFIG. 1, the magnet and the coil can be located near the outer edge oftheir respective body portions. In an embodiment such as that shown inFIGS. 2A-2C, since the shaft is at the center of the body portions andthe magnet and coil are near the edge of the body portions, as themagnet rotates with respect to the coil, the further toward the edge themagnet and coil are, the more significant the change in theelectromagnetic field as one rotates with respect to the other.

The rotation of the back portion can be aided based on the shape of theback portion. For example, the back portion could have features designedin its surface that, when moved through the water, can cause the backportion to rotate.

The back portion can also include additional features that aid thisrotation. For example, the back portion 204 of FIG. 2A includes a fin212 that, when it interacts with the water, encourages the back portion204 to rotate.

As can be seen from the embodiment of FIG. 2A, in some implementations,the lure can have more than just a front portion and a back portion. Inthe example of FIG. 2A, the lure has two sets of hooks and feathersattached behind the back portion. In some embodiments, the body may havethree or more portions with a front and back portion as described abovebeing two of them.

Further, in some embodiments, the body may have more than one coiland/or more than one magnet. In such embodiments, the multiple coilsand/or magnets may be separate systems, for example, each including oneor more magnets and one or more coils or may be a more complex systemwherein the system has multiple magnets moving with respect to one ormultiple coils or one or more magnets moving with respect to multiplecoils.

FIG. 2B illustrates a bottom view of the lure of FIG. 2A. In thisfigure, the head of the lure 200 (i.e., front portion 202) has beenrotated so that both contacts 210A and 210B can be viewed.

As shown, the lure can be painted in an attractive pattern or toreplicate a bait fish and/or can be epoxy coated to protect the lure. Insuch embodiments, the contacts can be positioned such that the paint orepoxy does not cover the contacts. Alternatively, the paint and/or epoxycan be removed from the contacts after it has been applied.

FIG. 2C illustrates an enlarged bottom view of the front portion of thelure of FIG. 2A. In this view, it can be seen that the paint and epoxyon the front portion 202 of lure 200 has been removed from the contacts210A and 210B.

This view also shows that a spacing bead has been positioned on shaft214 between the front portion 202 and 204. This bead is provided tomaintain a space between the front portion 202 and back portion 204 toallow for the back portion 204 to freely rotate about the shaft 214,among other benefits.

FIG. 2C also provides a better view of the fin 212. As can be seen fromthis view, in some implementations, the fin 212 can have a curvature orother shape to more effectively transfer the fin's interaction with thewater into rotational movement of the back portion 204 with respect tothe front portion 202 and, thereby, movement of the magnet with respectto the coil.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a different style of lure illustratingother embodiments of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, thelures 300 have a front portion 302 and a back portion 304 that areconnected by a shaft 314. However, in this embodiment, the front portion302 is mounted slidably on the shaft such that it can get closer andfarther from the back portion 304, thereby changing its respectiveposition with respect to the back portion 304.

In this embodiment, the front portion 302 includes the magnet 306 andthe back portion 304 includes the coil and contacts 310. The magnet'smovement closer and farther from the coil will vary the magnetic fieldas the lure moves through the water.

The portion of the elongate shaft 314 between the front portion and backportion of the body (the shaft is actually longer and extends into bothportions in the embodiments shown in FIG. 3) is positioned in anelongate spring (in the embodiment of FIG. 3, they are generallycoaxial). The spring allows the front portion to return to its initialposition such that the magnet can oscillate from being a longer distancefrom the coil to a shorter distance and back again. Such a movement canbe produced by pulling the lure quickly through the water, which pushesthe front portion 302 toward the back portion 304 and then slowing orstopping the pulling of the lure at which point the spring urges thefront portion 302 to return to or near to its original position which isfarther away from the back portion 304 than it was when being pulled.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of three different styles of luresillustrating other embodiments of the present disclosure. The top lureprovided in FIG. 4 has a similar mechanism 414-1 to connect the frontportion and the back portion as is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1(two connected eyes). However, it adds two elements that encourageirregular movement of the lure through the water which will cause thecoil to generate a more irregular electromagnetic field.

First, a fin 412-1 is placed on the front portion of the lure. Theparticular orientation of this fin shown in FIG. 4 can assist in causingthe lure to dive deeper into the water or move the lure from side toside.

A second element is added to the back portion of the lure. Here, aspinner 422 is attached to the back of the back portion. Its interactionwith the water and movement thereby causes the back portion of the lureto move irregularly and thereby generates an irregular electromagneticfield.

The middle lure shown in FIG. 4 has a mechanism similar to that of theembodiment of FIGS. 2A-2C. In this embodiment, the front and backportions are separated and connected by an elongate shaft. The backportion is attached such that it can rotate around the shaft. The lureincludes a fin 412-2 that encourages the rotational movement byinteraction with the water as the lure is pulled forward through thewater.

The bottom lure shown in FIG. 4 has a similar mechanism connecting thefront and back sections as those shown in FIGS. 2A-2C and the middlelure of FIG. 4, but the arrangement of the elements and the lure'smovement are different. In this embodiment, the front and back portionsare connected via a shaft 414-3.

However, in this embodiment, the front portion is rotatably mounted suchthat the front portion rotates around the shaft. The lure also includesa fin 412-3 that is provided on the front portion. This fin encouragesthe front portion to rotate with respect to the back portion and,thereby, provides the movement to vary the electromagnetic field as thecoil and magnet can be mounted in a manner similar to FIGS. 2A-2C. Ascan be noted by the embodiment in the bottom figure, in such shaftmounted embodiments, the distance between the front and back portionscan be small as opposed to the distance provided by the shaft in themiddle lure.

All of the embodiments herein provide novel electromagnetic performance.Through use of such devices, anglers should see improved performancewhen fishing.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same techniques can be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments of thedisclosure.

It is to be understood that the above description has been made in anillustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one. Combination of theabove embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically describedherein will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing theabove description.

The scope of the various embodiments of the disclosure includes anyother applications in which the above elements and methods are used.Therefore, the scope of various embodiments of the disclosure should bedetermined with reference to the appended claims, along with the fullrange of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A fishing lure, comprising: a body having afront portion and a back portion wherein the front and back portion areconstructed and arranged such that at least one of the portions can movewith respect to the other portion; and an electromagnetic fieldgeneration system having a magnet and a coil of conductive wire whereinthe wire has a contact at each end of the coil and wherein the magnetand the coil are separated from each other such that the magnet islocated in either the front portion or back portion and the coil islocated in the portion not containing the magnet.
 2. The fishing lure ofclaim 1, wherein the lure includes a first eye connected to the frontportion and a second eye connected to the back portion and wherein theeyes are connected to each other such that one of the portions can movewith respect to the other portion.
 3. The fishing lure of claim 1,wherein the back portion includes a fin to interact with water aroundthe lure when in use to move the back portion with respect to the frontportion.
 4. The fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the back portionincludes a spinner to interact with water around the lure when in use tomove the back portion with respect to the front portion.
 5. The fishinglure of claim 1, wherein the front portion includes a fin to interactwith water around the lure when in use to rotate the front portion withrespect to the back portion.
 6. The fishing lure of claim 1, wherein thelure includes a swivel connected between the front portion and the backportion and wherein the swivel allows one of the portions to spin withrespect to the other portion.
 7. The fishing lure of claim 6, whereinthe swivel is constructed and arranged to maintain a space between thefront and back portions.
 8. The fishing lure of claim 7, wherein theback portion includes a fin to interact with water around the lure whenin use to spin the back portion with respect to the front portion. 9.The fishing lure of claim 1, wherein the contacts are exposed to thewater when the lure is in use.
 10. The fishing lure of claim 1, whereinthe lure includes a shaft connected between the front portion and theback portion with a spring on the shaft and wherein the shaft and springallow one of the portions to move closer to and farther from the otherportion.